MERION STATION, Pa. – Davidson's Clark Beeker tossed a complete game on Friday afternoon, leading the Wildcats past the Saint Joseph's baseball team, 3-0, in the first of a three-game set between the two teams at Smithson Field.
Davidson (15-11 overall, 3-1 Atlantic 10) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third as Andrew Born's two-out single was mishandled, allowing Tyler Agard to score the game's first run.
Saint Joseph's (11-11 overall, 2-2 Atlantic 10) threatened in the bottom of the fifth, getting a pair of singles from Brian Lau and Cal Jadacki to start the frame, but a popout and a double play got Beeker out of the inning unscathed. John Brue then added a two-out double in the sixth, but Matt Maul was retired on a close play at first to end the threat.
In the seventh, the Wildcats tacked on a pair, using three singles and a sacrifice fly to extend the margin to 3-0.
Maul doubled in the ninth and went to third on a groundout, but Beeker retired Lau on a lineout to center to polish off the shutout. He scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out seven on the afternoon to improve to 6-0.
Tim Ponto took the hard-luck loss, falling to 1-2 after six-plus strong innings. He allowed six hits and was charged with three runs, two of them earned. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
The teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.